Picking an All-Time US Men's National Team XI

With six consecutive World Cup qualifications, the United States has worked its way from international minnow to a consistent mid-level team capable of taking down top international teams. As a new era begins under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, and with a new World Cup qualifying cycle about to begin next summer, who would make an All-Time USMNT starting 11?

With respect to Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Tony Meola, Kasey Keller’s international career is hard to match. A member of a remarkable four World Cup squads, Keller is the United States Men’s National Team's most capped goalkeeper.

In fairness, four of the USMNT’s top eleven players could be goalkeepers. No one who lived through it will soon forget the ponytailed Tony Meola and the U.S.’s fairy tale World Cup run in 1994. Tim Howard may yet eclipse the field and stake his claim to the mantle of the U.S.’s all-time best keeper, as he is still in his prime with no clear contender in sight. The closest competitor to Keller is Brad Friedel, however, who is the third most capped goalkeeper in USMNT history and was a member of three World Cup squads including the U.S.’s fantastic run in 2002. However, Friedel retired from the national team in his prime, even though he could have given Howard a run for his money for the No. 1 spot in both 2006 and 2010.

In Keller’s career, he accumulated 102 caps, the most wins of any U.S. goalkeeper, the most shutouts, won U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year three times and led the U.S. to three Gold Cup championships in 2002, 2005 and 2007.

Although Thomas Dooley’s playing career with the U.S. only places him at 22^nd all-time in terms of caps, Dooley’s addition to the U.S. roster in the run-up to the 1994 World Cup set the stage for the U.S.’s magical run. In 1993 he was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year, and in the 1994 World Cup he played every minute of every game, anchoring the American backline despite being 32 years old. In 1998, he captained the team at the World Cup, despite being 36 years old, and once again started every game. Dooley’s blue collar, lunch-pail attitude made the United States, seriously devoid of world class talent during his tenure, a tough team to beat in the 1990’s.

A mainstay on the U.S. backline through 96 caps, Alexi Lalas provided the USMNT with solid defending, a force in the air, a uniquely American personality and one of the first “bigger than the game” soccer stars in the United States. Lalas also showed an ability to pop up with a goal, finishing his career with one for about every ten appearances, a remarkable feat for a defender. Lalas was part of America’s fantastic larger-than-life 1994 World Cup run and named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1995.

Ranked fourth in all-time appearances for the USMNT, Marcelo Balboa helped anchor the U.S. backline through the 1990’s, being named to the ’90, ’94 and ’98 World Cup rosters. Balboa also is tenth all-time in goals, like Lalas, a remarkable feat for a defender. In his career, Balboa was also named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year twice and was the first American player to surpass the 100-cap mark.

Carlos Bocanegra’s 98 caps place him at 12^th all-time and, at 32, he shows no signs of slowing down. He has also notched 12 goals for the Nats, putting him 12^th all-time in that category as well. The captain of the USMNT for the last five years, Bocanegra has also led the team to two Gold Cup championships and captained the U.S. in their famous 2009 Confederations Cup semi-final win over No. 1-ranked Spain.

Ranked No. 2 in terms of all-time appearances for the USMNT, Landon Donovan has been the face of American soccer for the last decade, and is the team’s all-time leading scorer. While some have pointed to the fact that many of those goals have come on penalty kicks, Donovan’s 47 assists, also No. 1 all-time, prove that he has been at the hub of the overwhelming majority of the Nats' offensive production.

His successful loan stint at Everton in 2010 also proved that despite the naysayers, Donovan could get it done among the elite, as he was awarded the team’s player of the month award in his month-long loan spell. Donovan has been selected as US Soccer Athlete of the Year on four separate occasions and will forever be entrenched in U.S. fan's memories with his stoppage-time goal against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup.

Cobi Jones is the USMNT all-time leader in appearances with an impressive 164, is second all-time in assists, ninth in goals and was US Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1998. In a career that spanned three World Cups, including memorable runs in 1994 and 2002, Jones will be best remembered for his tireless work rate, his bombing runs up the field and, of course, his hair.

By the time he’s all done, Clint Dempsey may be the greatest American soccer player who ever lived. Still going strong and at the top of his game, Dempsey is a natural finisher who currently ranks fifth in all-time goals. His success in England for an American field player is remarkable, and he has been named US Soccer Athlete of the Year twice.

In the 2009 Confederations Cup, he won the Bronze Ball, proving that he is right at home with the best of the best. Dempsey is the most versatile player in recent memory, comfortable playing with his back to the goal, going at opponents one-on-one, strong in the air, combative and able to play as a forward, outside midfielder or as an attacking mid.

Although his international career ended in disappointment, losing the ball to a Ghanaian forward resulting in a goal in the game that ultimately saw the U.S. knocked out of the 2006 World Cup and injuring himself in the process, Reyna was a mainstay of the U.S. midfield through 112 games, putting him at No. 5 all-time. Captain of the U.S. team, Reyna was named to the World Cup All-Star team in 2002, is third all-time in national team assists with 19 and was named to an impressive four World Cup rosters.

Seventh all-time in appearances, second all-time in goals scored and fourth all-time in assists, Eric Wynalda was the U.S.'s chief goal-scoring threat throughout the 1990’s. Named to three World Cup rosters, 1996 US Soccer Athlete of the Year, US Player of the Decade and to CONCACAF’s All-Decade team, Wynalda’s greatest contribution to the US National Team has been forgotten by most.

In the 1994 World Cup, Wynalda scored the U.S.’s only goal against Switzerland in a 1-1 draw. While most fans remember the U.S.’s win over Columbia a few days later, the Colombia game would have been meaningless as the U.S. would not have advanced out of its group without Wynalda’s beautiful 30-yard upper 90 free-kick in the opener.

Perhaps the greatest work horse in USMNT history, Brian McBride became a fan favorite due to his unmatched work rate and sheer determination on the field. A member of three World Cup teams, including the U.S.’s memorable run in 2002, and absorbing a horrible elbow from Daniele De Rossi in 2006, McBride earned 95 caps and finished No. 3 all-time in goals with 30. After Charlie Davies went down in late 2009, some U.S. fans hoped that Bob Bradley would dragoon him back into service for one more World Cup in 2010.

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